Apparatus for cleaning gases



-F- R. McGEE ET AL.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GASES.

FILED 050410, 1920. 2 SHEETS-SHEETL Feb. 13, 1923. 1,444,845.

Feb. 13, 1923.

F. R. MCGEE ET AL.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GASES.

2 SHEET SHEET 2.

FILED D-EC110,I920.

INVENT Nr .FFICE.

FRANK RMCGEE, or STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, AND ARTHUR r. n sBrr, or winkms- BURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GASES.

Application filed December 10,1920. Serial No. 129,668.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it' known that We, FRANK R. MoGEE and ARTHUR F. Nnserr, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Steubenville, in the county of J eflerson and State of Ohio, and Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning ases.

This invention relates generally to the cleaning of gases, and while not restricted to such uses, relates more particularly to the separation and removal of dust or tar or similar finely divided solids and liquids or semi-liquids from gases such as those evolved in the operation of blast furnaces, coke ovens, gas producers, and the like.

One' object of thisfinvention is the provision of an electrode system composed of both discharge and collecting electrodes for producing an electrical force of such character that it will precipitate the foreign particles carried ,by the gases toward and against the collecting electrodes, thereby forming an outside annular ring of the precipitated particles and an inside core of 'cleangases,

Another and important object is the provision of mechanical means for removing any collected particles that may adhere to the collecting electrodes, without interrupt-' ing the flow of gases being cleaned. f 1 Other objects and advantages will be brought out in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying draw ings, in which-- L Figure 1 is a sectional elevation. showing a gas cleaner embodying our invention.

-Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of a part of the cleaner showing only one discharge andone'collecting electrode. 7

Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the apparatus shown inFigure 1, the section being taken on the line III-III of Fig ure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view taken. on the line IV-IV of Figure 1. v I

Figure 5 is a sectional plan on a large, scale, through one of the sets of electrodes, showing details inthe construction of the Ieombined' scraper and centrifugal head memer. 'Flgure is a planshowing a development of the curved vanes forming the combined scraper and centrifugal 'head of Figure 5. a In the accompanying drawings, the numoral-2 designates the cylindrical metal shell of a gas cleaner having 'frusto-conical ends 3 and 4, with an inlet 5 intermediate its ends and having a gas outlet 6 adjacent to the lower end thereof. The shell 2 is provided with outwardly extending 'ofi'set portions 7 around its periphery, forming vertlcal guideways or passages for a purpose to be described. l

- Secured to the inner surface. 2, at separate points in the height thereof, are brackets or annular flanges 9, 10, and 11, andsupported on the horizontal legs of these flanges are diaphragms or septums 12, 13,

and 14, forming transverse partitions separating the'shell 2 intoan insulating chamberAfa gas distributing chamber ,B, an

intermediate dust or impurity receiving chamber 'O, and a bottom gas collecting chamber D. The septum 14:, .which is frusto conical in cross-section, has a neck 14 connecting the lower end of the chamber O,

with the upper end of an impurity. or dust collecting or storage chamber EQ Outlet openings 15 at the lower end of the gas collecting chamber D and the storage chamber E are closed by means of a movable seal- Y ing bell 17, the bell and its operating mechanisin being of old and well'know'n construction and, in the construction shown serving to close both of the outlet openings 15 and 16. Obviously however, separate, bells 17 one for each chamber, may be used instead of one,'when found desirable or necessary.

The uppermost diaphragm or septum 12 is provided with" a plurality of openings adapted to have discharge electrode protect- .ing sleeves 18 peened therein, and to also support an insulating support member 19 vided with a centrally arranged socket supwhich supports a spider member 20 carrying depending discharge electrodes 21 which exioc port 22 adapted to slidably support the lower end of a vertically arranged rod 23 having its upper end slidably mounted in a frame 25 supported on the upper end of the shell 2.

A spider member 26 is rigidly secured on the rod 23 intermediate its end, and sup ports depending hanger rods 27 which extend into the ofiset portions 7 of the shell 2 and are mounted in the supporting lugs 28 of a spider member 29 which is adapted to move vertically within the gas distributing chamber B.

he spider 29 is provided with a series of openings or holes, and rigidly secured by its upper end in each of these holes, so as to depend therefrom, isv a tubular collecting electrode member 30 of a considerably greater diameter than the protecting sleeve 18, which is adapted toextend telescopically within the collecting electrode 30 an appreciable distance forming a port 30*.

The intermediate septum 13 is provided witha' series of openings or holes 31 which are in alinement with the holes in the spider 29, but are of slightly greater diameter to permit the depen ing collecting electrodes 30 tomove freely therethrough.

lower end of a depending collecting electrode 30. Care is taken in securing the collecting electrodes 30 and conduits 33 in their respective openings or holes, and in positioning the septums 13 and 14 and spider member 29 so that the collecting electrodes 30 and conduits 33 are alined axially, and that the overlapping ends thereof form an annular gap or outlet 34 at the lower end of each depending electrode 30, the gap forming a trap for the precipitated matter from the gases which open into the impurity receiving chamber C. The protecting sleeves 18 are provided on their periphery adjacent their lower ends and within the opening or ports 30" with a series of curved vanes 36 to impart a rapid whirling motion to the gases and also to act as scrapers to remove attached particles from the collecting electrodes. The outer edges of the series of vanes are of such diameter as will neatly fit within the collecting electrodes 30 and yet not bind them.

By reference to the development shown in Figure 6 it will be seen that the upper part of the vanes 36 forming part of my improved apparatus are curved downwardly and that the lower ends of the curved portions of the vanes tangent with a straight portion 36 and that the straight portions 36 of adjacent vanes form parallel side outlets of restricted area.

A second series of vanes 37 are arranged on the outer periphery of the conduits 33 within the port 34. The vanes .37, however,

The collecting electrodes 30 are adapted to be reciprocated vertically along the scraper vanes 36 and 37 to scrape off any attached particles. This reciprocatory movement is continuous, but very slow, so as not to set up any counter-currents of air. The mechanism for causing the above described movement may be of various constructions, although I have shown one form that is satisfactory.

A drive shaft 38 is provided at a point adj acent the lower end ofthe device having a worm gear 39 in mesh with a worm wheel 40 on a shaft 41 which has a crank arm 42 secured thereon. The crank arm 42 is connected by a link 43, which may be flexible or rigid, as desired, to a lever arm 44 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the lower end of a bearing link 45 pivotally mounted on the frame 25. The lever arm 44 hasits one-end pivotally secured at 45 tothe bearing arm 23 and its other end is provided with an adjustable counter-weight 46.

The ratio between the worm 39 and worm wheel 40 is such that the shaft 41 will be rotated very slowly, thereby communicating a slow reciprocatory movement through crank 42, line 43, lever arm 44, to the bearing arm 23, the collecting electrodes 10, and their intermediate connected parts.

The operation of the device is as follows Power is applied to the shaft 38, thereby operating worm 39, worm wheel 40, shaft 41, arm 42, link 43, and lever 44, reciprocating the bearing rod 23, spiders 26 and 29, and the collecting electrodes 30, causing the inner periphery of such electrodes to scrape against the scraper vanes 36 and 37.

At the same time that power is applied to the-shaft 38 unclean or particle laden gas is admitted through the opening 5 into the gas dlstributing chamber 13 from which it will enter the ports 30 and contact with the curved vanes 36 and, in passing through the outlets formed between the adjacent vanes the gases are given a rapid whirling or centrifugal motion, the velocity of the gases being increased in emerging through the converging outlets formed by adjacent vanes 36. The gases then pass downwardly through the ionization zones between the discharge electrodes 21 and collecting electrodes 30, thereby becoming ionized, and the suspended particles carried therein are precipitated outionization forces leaving an inner core of clean gas and an outer layer of precipitated particles.-

gas chamber D, andthe precipitated partic-les will pass into the trap or port 34: and

through the space between the collecting electrodes and conduits 33 and into the impurity chamber C and then to' the storage chamber E. 4 I

During the continued pamage of the gases and particles through the apparatus the collecting electrodes are being slowly'but c011- tinuously reciprocated, thereby scraping orremoving any attached particles therefrom,

and keeping the collecting electrodes clean at' all times.

The advantages of our invention will-be apparent to those skilled in the art. The apparatus is simple, has few moving parts, and

is easily and cheaply constructed and will not require frequent repairs. The gases are effectively cleaned and. separated from the foreign particles by-the forces of the ionization zones. By employing the cleaning scrapers to remove any attached particles from the collecting electrodes, such electrodes present an idealsurface at all times to receive the discharge from the discharge electrodes.

. Modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts forming our imdefined in the appended claims.

proved gas cleaning apparatus may be made wlthout departlng from our lnvention as We claim 1. In an apparatus for removing suspended particles from gaseous and fluid flow bodies, the combination with a stationary discharge electrode and a reciprocable collecting electrode, of means for scraping the collecting surface of said collecting electrodes when said electrodes are reciprocated without interrupting the operation vof-said electrodes for the flow of matter therethrough. i

2. In an apparatus for removing. suspended particles from gaseous and fluid flow bodies, the combination with a stationary discharge electrode and a reciprocable tubular collecting electrode, of. means arranged to contact with the inner periphery of'said collecting electrode to scrape the same when said electrode is reciprocated without interrupting the operation of said electrodes for the flow of matter therethrough.

3. In an apparatus for removing suspended particles from gaseous and fluid fioW electrodes, of means arranged to contact with the inner periphery of said collecting electrodes to scrape'the same when said electrodes are reciprocated, and means for continuously reciprocating said collecting elec- The cores of clean gases will then pass into the conduits 33 and be conveyed to the clean trodes.

4. Thecombina-tion with an apparatus for removing suspended particles from gaseous and fiuid'streams comprising a shell having a plurality of discharge and collecting electrodes arranged therein, said collecting electrodes being of tubular formation and said discharge electrodes being centrally ar-. ranged therein, tubular protecting sleeves of less diameter than said collecting electrodes arranged around the upper portion of said discharge electrodes and telescoping into the upper ends of said collecting electrodes, and clean gas conduits of less diameter than said collecting electrodes extending telescopically within the lower portion of said collecting electrodes, of a: series of curved vanes arranged on said protecting sleeves and contacting with the inner periphery of said collecting electrodes, and a second series of curved vanes arranged on said clean gas conduits and contacting with the inner periphery of said collecting conduit at a point below said first seriesQ 5. The combination with an apparatus for removing suspended particle's from gaseous collecting electrodes extending telescopically within the lower portion of said collecting electrodes, of a. series of curved vanes secured on the outer periphery of said protecting sleeves. and contacting with the inner periphery of said collecting electrodes forming curved passages through which products tobe cleaned must pass, and a sec- I end series of curved vanes secured on said clean gasconduits and contacting with the inner periphery of said collecting conduit at a point below said first series, said last named series of vanes being considerably fewer in number than said first series.

.6. The combination with an apparatus for. removing suspended particles from gaseous and fluid streams comprising a shell having a plurality of stationary discharge electrodes arranged therein, a plurality of reciprocating tubular collecting electrodes surroundwithin the lower portion of said collecting electrodes, and means for constantly reciprocating said collecting electrodes, of a series. of curved vanes secured on the outer periphery of said protecting sleeves and contacting with the inner periphery of said collecting electrodes forming curved passages through which products to be cleaned must pass, and a second series of curved vanes secured on said clean gas conduits and contacting with the inner periphery of said collecting conduit at a point below said first series, said last named series of vanes being considerably fewer in number than said first series.

7. In an apparatus for removing suspended particles from gaseous and fluid flow bodies, the combination with a plurality of stationary discharge electrodes, and a plurality of vertically reciprocable tubular col- 3o lecting electrodes surrounding said discharge electrodes, of means arranged to contact wit-h the inner periphery of said collecting electrodes to scrape the same when said electrodes are reciprocated without interrupting the operation of said electrodes for the flow of matter therethrough.

8. In an apparatus for removing suspended particles from gaseous and fluid flow bodies, the combination with a plurality of stationary discharge electrodes, and a plurality of vertically reciprocable tubular collecting electrodes surrounding said discharge electrodes, of means arranged to contact with the inner periphery of said collecting electrodes to scrape the same when said electrodes are reciprocated without interrupting the operation of said apparatus, and means for continuously reciprocating said collecting electrodes during the operation of said 50 apparatus. I

- 9. In an apparatus for removing suspended particles from gaseous and fluid flow bodies, the combination with a stationary discharge electrode and a reciprocable tubular collecting electrode, of a tubular sleeve of less diameter. than said'collecting electrode arranged around the upper portion of said discharge electrode and telescoping into the upper end of said collecting electrode, a clean gas conduit of less diameter than said collecting electrode extending telescopically within the lower portion of said collecting electrode, and means carried by said sleeve and said clean gas conduit adapted to contact with the inner periphery of said collecting electrode to scrape the same when said electrode is reciprocated.

10. In an apparatus for removing suspended particles from gaseous and-fluid flow bodies, the combination with a stationary 7 discharge electrode and a reciprocable tubular collecting electrode, of a tubular sleeve of less diameter than said collecting electrode arranged around the upper portion of said discharge electrode and telescoping into the upper end of said collecting electrode, a cleangas conduit of less diameter than said collecting electrode extending telescopically within the lower portion of said collecting electrode, and scrapers carried by said sleeve and said clean gas conduit adapted to scrape the inner surface of said collecting electrode when said electrode is reciprocated.

11. In an apparatus for removing suspended particles from gaseous and fluid flow 35 bodies, the combination with a stationary discharge electrode and a reciproca-ble tubular collecting electrode, of a tubular sleeve of less diameter than said collecting electrode arranged around the upper portion of, said dischargeelectrode and telescoping into the upper end of said collecting electrode, a clean gas conduit of less diameter than said collecting electrode extending telescopically within the lower portion of said collecting electrode, and means carried by said sleeve and said clean gas conduit adapted to contact with the inner periphery of said collecting electrode to scrape the same when said electrode is reciprocated without interrupting the flow of matter through, and the normal operation of the apparatus.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names.

FRANK R'MOGEE.

ARTHUR r. NnsBIr. 

